Dynamic channel selection and DFS re-entry

Abstract

A wireless network device, for operation within a wireless network, the wireless network device comprising: a wireless interface operable on one or more wireless channels; a memory; and a process configured to: scan at least one channel for predetermined time duration; and make a channel quality assessment measurement during the predetermined time duration, wherein the processor is adapted to synchronize the predetermined time duration with other wireless network devices that are operable in the wireless network and that scan the at least one channel and make channel quality assessment measurements during substantially the same predetermined time duration, wherein the channel quality assessment measurement is compared with other channel quality assessment measurements from other network devices that are operable in the wireless network thereby to enable determination of an optimal channel for communication between the network devices and wherein the wireless network device is configured to operate on the optimal channel.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A method for channel selection, the method comprising:
 determining a time period when channel traffic for a current operating channel is below a threshold, wherein the current operating channel is a non-DFS channel; 
 determining a channel score for each of a plurality of Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channels based on local channel statistics information during the determined time period; 
 determining a best DFS channel based on evaluating the determined channel scores; 
 triggering one or more wireless devices in a wireless network to switch to the best DFS channel at the time period; and 
 running in-channel channel availability check for the best DFS channel, and using the best DFS after the in-channel channel availability check is complete. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the threshold is 10 Kb or less. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local channel statistics information comprise data obtained during synchronized channel scans for the one or more wireless devices in synchronized time intervals. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the local channel statistics information comprises data relating to scans of sub-channels within one or more channels, wherein the channel score for each of the one or more channels comprises a sum of a weighted score for each sub-channel within the one or more channels, and wherein the weighted score for each sub-channel is weighted in accordance with its bandwidth. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the channel score for each of the plurality of DFS channels is based on a determined idle time in each of the plurality of DFS channels. 
     
     
       6. A device, the device comprising:
 a processor operatively coupled to a communications interface, the processor and communications interface configured to determine a time period when channel traffic for a current operating channel is below a threshold, wherein the current operating channel is a non-DFS channel; 
 the processor and communications interface configured to determine a channel score for each of a plurality of Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channels based on local channel statistics information during the determined time period; 
 the processor and communications interface configured to determine a best DFS channel based on evaluating the determined channel scores; 
 the processor and communications interface configured to trigger one or more wireless devices in a wireless network to switch to the best DFS channel at the time period; and 
 running in-channel channel availability check for the best DFS channel, and using the best DFS after the in-channel channel availability check is complete. 
 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the threshold is 10 Kb or less. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the local channel statistics information comprise data obtained during synchronized channel scans for the one or more wireless devices in synchronized time intervals. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the local channel statistics information comprises data relating to scans of sub-channels within one or more channels, wherein the channel score for each of the one or more channels comprises a sum of a weighted score for each sub-channel within the one or more channels, and wherein the weighted score for each sub-channel is weighted in accordance with its bandwidth. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the channel score for each of the plurality of DFS channels is based on a determined idle time in each of the plurality of DFS channels. 
     
     
       11. A method for channel selection, the method comprising:
 determining a time period when channel traffic for a current operating channel is below a threshold, wherein the current operating channel is a non-DFS channel; 
 determining a channel score for each of a plurality of Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channels based on local channel statistics information during the determined time period, wherein the local channel statistics information comprises data relating to scans of sub-channels within one or more channels, wherein the channel score for each of the one or more channels comprises a sum of a weighted score for each sub-channel within the one or more channels, and wherein the weighted score for each sub-channel is weighted in accordance with its bandwidth; 
 determining a best DFS channel based on evaluating the determined channel scores; 
 triggering one or more wireless devices in a wireless network to switch to the best DFS channel at the time period; and 
 running in-channel channel availability check for the best DFS channel, and using the best DFS after the in-channel channel availability check is complete.